Musical pieces



G. REUGE MUSICAL PIECES Sept. 24, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 8,1953 40m@ @e065 i @zu Sept. 24,` 1957 G. REUGE 2,807,118

MUSICAL PIECES Filed Dec. 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IW m Wmlll m m 4 /l@ilu m m 4 2, 1 1 -,fmmw.. 2, m 4 n w... .m E.. .W m a 2 f I ,1.

United States Pate-nt Op" MUSICAL PIECES Guido Reuge, Sainte-Croix,Switzerland Application December 8, 1953, Serial No. 396,907 s Claims.(Cl. 46-11s) The present invention concerns a music piece associatedwith a miniature gure mounted on a spindle capable of receiving an axialreciprocating movement. This music piece is characterized by the factthat the said spindle is freely mounted so as to be able to slide in asleeve capable of pivoting about a horizontal axis in such a manner thatthe figure may be tilted from a standing positionI to a recliningposition.

This music piece preferably comprises a platform which is coaxial withthe said spindle carrying the figure and is mounted in such a mannerthat it follows the tilting movement of the figure, the feet of whichrest upon the said platform when it is in the standing position.

The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, two embodimentsof the music piece which constitutes the object of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a partially sectional elevation of the first embodiment.

Fig. 2 shows a partially sectional larger scale elevation Y of a detail.

Fig. 3 shows a plan of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows an elevation, similar to the one shown in Fig. 1, of thesecond embodiment.

Fig. 5 shows a larger scale view of a detail of this embodiment.

The same references are used in both embodiments to indicate the sameorgan.

The music piece shown in Figs. l to 3 is associated with a miniaturefigure 1 mounted on a spindle 2 capable of receiving a vertical axialreciprocating movement as well as a tilting movement, as will bedescribed below. This spindle 2 is freelymounted in a sleeve 3 fixed tothe end of a bent rod 4 having a horizontal portion 4 rotatably mountedin bearings 5 forming part of a supporting plate 6 screwed in 7 to thekey-board of the movement of the music piece. Hooked to the other end ofthe rod 4 is a traction spring 8, the other end of which is hooked to afixed part of the movement. This spring 8 tends to maintain the sleeve 3in the vertical position. 9 indicates a lever stop, one end of which iscontrolled by the rod 4 and which can be tilted about a horizontal axisa-a so that its other end is displaced in such a manner that it iseither in or out of the trajectory of the blade 10 of the speedgovernor. A spring 11 is arranged in such a manner that it maintains thelever 9 up against the rod 4 when the sleeve 3 is in the verticalposition.

The spindle 2 carrying the figure 1 is actuated by a plate 12 fixed to abent rod 13 which engages with a ratchet wheel 14 secured to the shaft15 of the pin drum (which is not shown) cooperating with the blades ofthe key-board.

The miniature figure 1 comprises legs 16 which are loosely hung in 17from the trunk 1' fixed to the spindle 2. The feet of the figure cancome to rest on a supporting surface 18 provided with a slit 19 throughwhich the spindle 2 passes.

The assembly consisting of the movement and the figure is mounted in abox or casket 20 fitted with a lid 21.

'2,807,118 j Patented Sept. V24, '1,957

The described embodiment functions in the following manner: t

In the position shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 the free end of thelever 'stop 9 iscut of the trajectory of the blade 10 of the speedgovernor. The movement of the music piece is thusY in motionrand theplate 12 is moved up and down owing to the action of the teeth of thewheel 14 on the rod 13. The plate 12 transmits its movement to thespindle 2 which rests loosely upon it, andthe figure 1 'thus receives avertical reciprocating movement. When it hits the supporting surface 18one or other of the legs 16 exerts a force on the trunk 1 and thusproduces a torque which causes the figure to pivot about its spindle 2in one direction or the other.

When the lid 21 is closed, its bottom, which is preferably provided witha smooth surface 21', such as a mirror, comes into contact with thefigure 1 which it tilts, as shown by dots and dashes in Fig. 1. Thesleeve 3 is thus also tilted and the rod 4 oscillates about itshorizontal axis and releases the lever 9, which, actuated by the spring11, oscillates about the axis a--a in such a manner that its free endblocks the blade 10 of the governor (Fig. 2) thus causing the movementto stop. In the completely closed position of the lid 21, the figure 1reclines with the spindle 2 practically in the horizontal position, andthe movement is stopped by the lever 9 as described above.

The tilting of the figure, instead of being controlled by the closing ofthe lid, could for instance be effected by means of an independenthandle.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, only the miniature figure 1 andthe box 20 with its lid 21 have been shown, without the movement of themusic piece. The spindle 2 of the figure is free to slide in a sleeve 22and its lower end rests on the plate 12. The sleeve 22 is held in a coil23 which is eventually soldered, formed by a helically wound wire oneend 23 of which extends horizontally in a bearing 24 forming part of theframework of the movement of the music piece. This horizontal end 23'constitutes the pivot of the sleeve 22. Instead of the coil 23, anyother means of support could be provided for the sleeve 22.

A platform 25, formed by a circular disk, is fixed coaxially on thesleeve 22. In Fig. 4 this platform is shown in the horizontal position,i. e. closing a circular opening 26 formed in a covering plate 27parallel to the bottom of the box 20 and masking the movement of themusic piece (which is not shown). The platform 25 serves to support thefeet of the figure 1 when the latter is in the standing position, andextends in the same plane as the plate 27. The opening 26 is surroundedby a decorative ring 28 which could also be omitted. The platform 25,instead of being circular, could of course be of any other shape andclose a corresponding opening 26.

When the lid 21 of the box is closed, the figure 1 is tilted about thehorizontal axis 23 in such a manner that the sleeve 22 and the platform25 take up the position shown by dots and dashes in Fig. 5.

In both the described embodiments, the gure 1 can be removed with itsspindle 2 from the sleeve 3, respectively 22 and eventually replaced byanother.

What I claim is:

l. A music piece of the type having a box-like enclosure, a hinged coverand a music movement positioned in said enclosure, said box having aminiature figure having hanging feet movable to upright position whenthe cover is opened and movable vertically and rotatably when uprightand when the movement is operated, and tiltable to reclining positioninside the enclosure when the cover is closed, a spindle supporting saidfigure, a bearing serving as a reciprocating slide for said spindle, apivotal mount for said bearing to permit said ligure to swing betweenvertical and reclining position, a platform positioned below said gureto strike the hanging feet of the figure when it is moved verticallydownwardly and thus cause rotating movement of the figure, means tomovethe figure into upright position whenV the vcover is opened andmeans to cause vertical reciprocating movement of the spindle when theligure is upright;

2. The piece of claim 1, the platform being mounted upon said bearingand moving with said bearing. Y

3. The piece of claim 1, said cover when closed serving to tilt theligure from vertical position into inclined position.

4. TheV piece of claim 1, said last-mentioned means consisting of aconnection from the music movement to elevate and lower the spindle.

2,807,118 Y i ,s

5. The piece of claim 1, said bearing consisting of a sleeve having apivotal mount on the side of the movement so that it may swing toupright position or to reclined position respectively when the cover isopen or closed and carry the spindle and the ligure with it in suchswinging movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,207,022 Green Dec. 5, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS 280,210 Switzerland Jan.l5, 1952 292,834 Switzerland Aug. 31, 1953

